Billiard-table.



No. 655,503. Patented Aug. 7, I961 Y R. W. MUFFETT.

BILLIARD TABLE.

(Application filed mm. 14. 1899.)

(No Model.)

(NITED STATE ROBERT IVASIIINGTON MOFFETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

BILLIARD-TABLE;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,503, dated Au ust 7, 1906.

Application filed March 14, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, ROBERT WASHINGTON IVIOFFETT, of Chicago, in the county of Cook,

and in the State of Illinois, have in vented cer- 5 tain new and useful Improvements in Billiard- Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a perspective view of my cushion separated from its covering and from the rail and showing its grooved rear face. Fig. 2 is a like view of the fastening bar and screws separated from each other and from the rail. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the tubular covering for the cushion, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of said parts as combined for use.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invention is an improvement upon a construction of billiard-cushion shown in Letters Patent No. 618,574, issued January 31, 1899, and has for its object the lessening of the number of parts employed; and to such end my said invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the carrying of my invention into practice I take the ordinary cushion A of a billiard-table and within the rear face of the wooden member 0, thereof form a longitudinal groove a, which in cross-section has, preferably, a circular form, with its outer side cut away to form an open neck (L as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Within the groove a of the cushion-back a is placed a bar B, which has the form of one half-circle with rounded corners and has such width as to cause it to extend across the open neck a of such groove, with its convex face resting upon the concave faces of said groove at each side of such neck, in which position said bar receives the inner threaded ends of a number of screws 0 and O, that pass each inward through a suitable opening (1 in the table-rail D, as shown in Fig. 4, the construc tion enabling the said cushion to be confined in place against such rail by the action of said screws in drawing said bar outward against 50 the side of the groove ct.

The cushion A is covered by a tube of cloth Serial No. 709,037. (No model.)

a (shown in Fig. 3,) which has such size as to cause it to encircle said cushion and ex tend into the groove a and around the bar B, so that by the insertion of the latter said cloth 5 5 is drawn to and held in position. To insert the bar into the groove, it is passed edgewise through the neck portion a pressing the cloth before it, and then when it is fully into the groove a it is turned to the position shown in Fig. 4, the effect of turning it from the position in which it is inserted being to draw or stretch the cloth. Should the tube be too large, a strip of cloth or paper may be placed between the latter and the bar, or, if desired, said bar may be reversed to bring its flat face outward, in which event its edges will restupon the inclined sides of the groove at higher points and hold said bar farther within said groove, so as to increase the tension of said cloth. With the construction shown the operation of replacing the cloth covering of a cushion or changing the position of the same circumferentially, so as to bring anew part into position for wear, is easily and quickly effected, as by the simple removal of the fasteningscrews 0 and O the cushion A is released from the rail D and the bar B left free to be taken from its groove, while by a reversal of such operation said cushion and its covering will be secured inposition again.

In the construction shown in the hereinbefore-named patent, No. 618,574, there is employed, in addition to a cloth-tightening bar, three separate parts at and in connection with each fastening-screw, while in my construction all of these separable and easilymisplaced parts intervening between the screws and bar are done away with and such parts connect directly with each other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. As an improvement in billiard-tables, the combination of a cushion provided with 5 a longitudinal groove, which has a contracted outer portion that opens at the back, or inner, side of the cushion, a tubular cover inclosing the cushion, with a portion extending into the groove, a bar engaging the portion of the I00 cover in the groove and holding the cover under tension, and fastening-screws passing through the table-rail and directly engaging said bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. As an improvement in billiard-tables, the combination of a cushion provided with a longitudinal groove, a tubular cover inclosing the cushion with a portion extendinginto the groove, a bar engaging the portion of the cover in the groove and provided with side surfaces of different form, and shiftable to present surfaces of different form for contact with the cover, means for holding thebar in its different positions and means for holding said cushion to the table, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. As an improvement. in billiard-tables, the combination of a cushion provided with a longit'udinal'groove, atu'bular coverinclosing the cushion with a portion extending into the groove, abar engaging the portion of the cover in the groove, having opposite plane and convex sides adapted for alternate use, means for holding the-bar in its different positions, and means for holding said cushion to the table, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. As an improvement in billiard-tables, the combination of a cushion provided with a longitudinal groove with a contracted outer portion, a tubular cover inclosing the cushion with a portion extending into the groove, a bar engaging the portion of the cover in the groove and means for drawing the bar outward against portions of the cover in contact with the groove-walls, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. As an improvement in billiard-tables,

the combination of a cushion which is provided within its rear side with a groove that has in cross-section a circular form with a narrow outer side, ahalf-round bar that is adapted to be passed into said groove, and to extend vertically across its narrow, outer portion, screws passing through the table-rail and having their inner ends engaged with said bar, and a tubular cloth cover unparted longitudinally which is adapted to inclose said cushion and to extend into its groove" around said'bar, substantially as-and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingl have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of February, 1899.

ROBERT WASHINGTON MOFFE'ITQ. I

Witnesses:

LYSANDER HILL, L. A. GARDINER. 

